Hair Loss In Women: Everything You Need To Know

Hair Loss In Women: How Common is it?

Do you find an alarming number of hair strands on your comb, everytime you brush your hair? Is there a tiny hair monster in your washroom after every shower? Do you feel like your hair is thinning or losing volume? If you answered yes to all these questions, you have a hair loss problem.

Various studies claim that 40% of all women experience hair loss to some extent by the time they reach age 40. A survey by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery suggests that by the age of 60, 80% of women will have faced hair loss or thinning hair.  

While women’s hair is technically not different from that of men, there are significant differences in their hair loss patterns and causes. Usually, women facing a hormonal imbalance and experiencing high stress are more prone to hair loss at a young age. Frequent hair styling and heat-based treatments can also prompt premature hair fall in women. 

Signs of Hair Loss And How Can You Detect It?

A simple way to check whether you have a hair loss problem is the pull test used by dermatologists everywhere.  You grasp small strands of your hair from different parts of your scalp and tug on them lightly. If 6 or more strands of hair fall out, it indicates hair fall. 

In addition to  the pull test, here are a few signs that indicate female pattern hair loss or female baldness:

• Receding hairline in women: A receding hairline is a definite sign of hair loss in women, and you should keep a lookout for hair loss at the front of your head, in other words, hair thinning at the crown for females.
• Bald spots on your head: A spot on your head where you have less hair than the rest of your head is a bald spot, and female baldness is an indicator of a severe hair loss problem.
• Thinning hair in women: If everytime you run your hands through your hair, you notice that your hair is loose and comes off easily, that is a sign that you are experiencing hair loss. Hair thinning at the crown in females is fairly common and signals female pattern hair loss.

What are the Major Causes of Hair Loss in Women?

The causes for hairfall in women can be numerous, and it could also be a combination of more than one reason. Here are a few explanations to help you figure out what is causing your hair to fall: 

High-Stress Events

Stress has a direct correlation to hair loss in women, and many studies have provided evidence of this. Both acute and chronic stress could trigger hair fall in women, so at times, a solid female hair loss treatment plan is to manage your stress better. 

Hereditary Female-Pattern Hair Loss 

Sometimes the cause of hair fall in women is hidden in their genetics. If your family has a hereditary female pattern hair loss problem, chances are you will have it as well. Hair regrowth for women in this case becomes much more challenging.  

Pregnancy and Hair Loss

Pregnancy is a difficult time for women, since there are many hormonal changes in their body that directly affect their hair. A condition called telogen effluvium is common in women during or post pregnancy, which is a hair loss condition induced by stress or shock. Other reasons could be vitamin deficiency and/or diet-related issues during pregnancy.

Iron Deficiency During Heavy or excess menses

Women may experience iron deficiency if they have heavy menses. An iron deficiency can have a harmful impact and can trigger hair fall in women. You may notice thinning hair or even female baldness in parts. Women are advised to eat iron-rich foods to avoid this condition. 

Menopause and Hair Loss

Menopause is a hormonally turbulent time for women that can trigger hair loss. A fall in estrogen and progesterone levels rapidly during menopause means that the male hormone secretion is higher.  This hormonal imbalance may lead to hair thinning at the crown  accompanied by a receding hairline in women.

Treatment for Hair Loss in Women